Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Her perfect life is a perfect lie . . . Ani FaNelli is the woman who has it all: the glamorous job, the designer wardrobe, the handsome and rich fiancé. But behind her sharp edges and meticulously crafted facade lies the darkest of pasts . . .

When a documentary producer invites Ani to tell her side of the chilling and violent incident that took place when she was a teenager at the prestigious Bradley school, she hopes it will be an opportunity to prove how far she's turned her life around since then. She'll even let the production company film her lavish wedding, the final step in her transformation.

But as the wedding and filming converge, Ani's past threatens to come back and haunt her. And as her immaculate veneer starts to crack, she is forced to question: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for - or, will it at long last, set Ani free?

This is probably going to be a little controversial but...

Oh dear, I really wanted to like this especially with the glowing reports and all the marketing hype but it really did fall a long way short of my expectations. I am an honest reviewer and don't get swayed by others opinions always making up my own mind and telling it how it is so for this reason I can't pretend it was a great piece of literary work or that it is the 'must read' book of the season, sorry.

I was on page 85 and still nothing concrete had happened and I almost lost the will to live to continue reading but I am nothing if not thorough so did plough on to the end.

Unfortunately it was a predictable as I had thought, no twists or unexpected thrills to keep the reader going or anything to keep me mildly interested in the characters. I hated TifAni FaNelli - what a stupid name and a shallow character, quite honestly I couldn't have cared less about her, the pronunciation of her name, or the 'story'. Everyone was so manufactured and hollow, and where was the humour that the back cover boasted about? There was nothing to anchor the reader, serious issues like rape were glossed over with little or no emotion and even a sexually ignorant girl of 14 would surely show more emotion, guilt or shame over what happened to her than this shallow character - just not believable for me.

I knew it I was not enjoying it because I had to keep reading back to remind me what I had read each time I picked the book up and I really struggled to want to pick it up - took me over a week as I kept putting it off! Normally a page turner will have me done in a day.This book was boring and dull and frankly I am at a loss as to why it was compared to such good writers as Gillian Flynn, Jodi Picoult and Lauren Weisberger when it is clearly not in the same league.

No not for me, all I can give this poor attempt is 1 star, there are far better books out there don't waste your time reading this one.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher

On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Your soul is too heavy to pass through this door,
Leave the weight of the world in the world from before

Evie Snow is eighty-two when she quietly passes away in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. It's the way most people wish to leave the world but when Evie reaches the door of her own private heaven, she finds that she's become her twenty seven- year-old self and the door won't open. Evie's soul must be light enough to pass through so she needs to get rid of whatever is making her soul heavy. For Evie, this means unburdening herself of the three secrets that have weighed her down for over fifty years, so she must find a way to reveal them before it's too late. As Evie begins the journey of a lifetime, she learns more about life and love than she ever thought possible, and somehow , some way, she may also find her way back to her long lost love...


I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and the sound of where the plot was going to go. I have read many Cecelia Ahern books and was hoping that I would be left with a similar feeling after reading hers.

Evie Snow is dead, she seems to be in a place that doors won't open. This really intrigued me and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen. There was a magical element in the story and was a little bit 'fairy tale' ish which I enjoyed.

I didn't read this book in a couple of sittings due to being too busy at work and this could have changed my view of the book. I personally found it a little tricky to follow, I was unsure of when the story was meant to be set, I got the impression Evie was from the 60's, however Vincent seemed to be more from the present day. I then thought perhaps we were going back/forward in time. Like I said though, it could have been down to the fact I read the book in a slightly disjointed way and perhaps if I had read it straight though this wouldn't have happened.

I loved the idea of this story and think it was really sweet. However some of the background 'contextual' information didn't seem to be correct. Evie being 82 when going back from modern day should be in her 20's and surely the environment should reflect this, which it doesn't.

Overall if you take the story with a pinch of salt and don't read too much into it, then you will enjoy it, however if you are looking for something perfect it isn't, Carrie though has done a great job on writing her first novel and can be forgiven for some of the mistakes she has made. I would say perhaps the story would be suited to a younger audience.

I have been asked not to share too much of the story in my review so you will have to go and buy the book if you want to know more!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was meant to be the perfect trip. 

The Northern Lights. A luxury press launch on a boutique cruise ship. 

A chance for travel journalist Lo Blacklock to recover from a traumatic break-in that has left her on the verge of collapse, and to work out what she wants from her relationship. 

Except things don’t go as planned. 

Woken in the night by screams, Lo rushes to her window to see a body thrown overboard from the next door cabin. But the records show that no-one ever checked into that cabin, and no passengers are missing from the boat. 

Exhausted, emotional and increasingly desperate, Lo has to face the fact that she may have made a terrible mistake. Or she is trapped on a boat with a murderer – and she is the sole witness...


Laura [Lo] Blacklock a travel journalist is chosen by her magazine to cover the maiden voyage of a very exclusive cruise liner bound for the Norwegian Fjords and the Northern Lights. Having been the victim of a burglary some nights before she leaves she has spent some sleepless nights in her flat leading up to the trip and is suffering from sleep deprivation by the time she boards the cruise liner. The first night aboard she is woken in the early hours of the morning by a scream and a splash which appears to have come from the cabin next to hers. When she goes onto the verandah she sees blood on the partition between the cabins. Convinced something has happened to the girl in the next cabin she calls for security who inform her there is no one in that cabin. The guest booked had cancelled at the last minute. Lo knows there was a woman in the cabin as she met her the evening before when she knocked and asked to borrow some mascara. Something is very wrong and she makes up her mind to find out what is going on.

I didn't think that Lo came across as particularly brave in many instances I thought she was quite a weak character. For me it was a shame that Ruth Ware didn't make her into a stronger person until almost the end of the novel but with her long history of taking medication for extreme anxiety and how easy it was for others to make her doubt herself perhaps the pitch was right but nevertheless it was at times frustrating and I wanted to shake her and give her a good talking to.

I liked the fact that the novel was set on a cruise liner in the middle of the ocean, it felt really very Agatha Christie and the slow incremental tension building added to the suspense. I did think in parts it could have moved a little quicker as pages were devoted to interviewing staff on board which the reader knows won't throw any light on the woman in cabin 10. The atmosphere was created very well conveying the claustrophobic feeling and size of the cruiser and the isolation of being cut off from the outside world with no internet or phone signals; it also had a creepy feeling about it with all the staff being so robotic and smiley all the time. Not being able to completely trust anyone was also conveyed well and of course Lo eventually doubting her own sanity.

I didn't really buy the end of Richard Bullmer (I won't go into it as don't want to show a spoiler) but after all that had happened and all his power and connections I couldn't believe it would have ended this way for him. But of course should Ruth Ware want to write a sequel then it might be that the body wasn't him at all - an interesting twist.

It was well written and an enjoyable read - perhaps one to take on holiday but maybe not on a cruise! A worthy 4 stars from me.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You never know what's happening on the other side of the wall.

Your neighbour told you that she didn't want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn't stand her crying.

Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You'll have the baby monitor and you'll take it in turns to go back every half hour.

Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She's gone.

You've never had to call the police before. But now they're in your home, and who knows what they'll find there.

What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit?



I read this in one day from start to finish - I am glad that I chose to do this as it helped the flow of the book.

After their baby sitter calls to cancel the couple Marco and Anne made a decision to leave their 6 month old baby alone while they go next door to a dinner party. They take the baby monitor and religiously go in to check her every half an hour throughout the evening. On returning home after the party they discover that the baby is missing. Racked with guilt at leaving the child the story proceeds to uncover what happened that night. It was well paced and had enough intrigue to make the reader want to find out what had happened to the missing baby.

I did however find the characters a bit flat and it was hard to like any of them. The mother was suffering post partum depression but we later learn she has some history of mental illness; the father Marco has money worries as having over extended his business he is now in financial trouble; Anne's mother Alice didn't really seem to have much personality until the latter half of the book and her step father Richard was a very nasty and manipulative character. The writer also didn't really allow the reader imagination as everything was neatly laid out - I felt it was more 'tell' than 'show' and because of this it was easy to predict.

I did guess the outcome but the twist at the end was somewhat unexpected so this saved it from being totally predictable. It was well rounded off and all ends tied up nicely but I did think it lacked a certain something that would have made it great for me, having said that it was still a good read, not the best psychological thriller but a passable read. I would give this a 4 star rating, not quite up there with the best but not a bad effort for a debut thriller.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Ruby Oliver 1: The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Ruby Oliver 1: The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From E. Lockhart, author of the New York Times bestseller and Zoella Book Club 2016 title, We Were Liars, comes this hilarious and heart-warming series. 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver Ruby Oliver is fifteen and has a shrink. But before you make up your mind about her, you should know that she has had a pretty awful (and eventful) past ten days. She has: lost her boyfriend (#13 on the boyfriend list), lost her best friend, lost all her other friends, did something suspicious with a boy (#10), did something advanced with a boy (#15), had an argument with a boy (#14), drank her first beer (someone handed it to her), got caught by her mom (ag!), had a panic attack (scary), lost a lacrosse game, failed a math test, hurt Meghan's feelings, became a social outcast, and had graffiti written about her in the girls' bathroom. But don't worry, Ruby lives to tell the tale. Through a special assignment to list all the boys she's ever had the slightest, little, any-kind-of-anything with, comes an unfortunate series of events that would be enough to send any girl in a panic.



I have a couple of E.Lockhart's books and enjoyed them all. When I was offered the chance to read and review this book, I started straight away. I managed to read this in a couple of sittings, it is just over 200 pages and a relatively light read.

This is a story about Ruby Oliver, who seems to alienate herself from all her peers due to choices she makes. Ruby has had a series of panic attacks and it is not until her parents experience one that she is sent to see a Dr. The story is told through her eyes at her therapy sessions with Dr Z, as you read you begin to discover the reasons for her panic attacks. Ruby is a fifteen year old, who goes through the regular of issues most fifteen year olds deal with. Unfortunately for me, she was not a likable character.

The story as I have mentioned is through Ruby's eyes in the form of a list, that her Dr has asked her to complete, to try and get to know Ruby better and for her to begin to identify with herself. I found it difficult initially to follow due to the footnotes, some of these are quite long on the pages.

Ruby came across a little shallow during the story and not really worried about who she hurt along the way. I felt sorry for Angelo and would loved to have seen more of him. I also wished he had perhaps confronted her about her behaviour on that night.

There was no resolution to the story and we were left hanging some what, I would have liked to have found out what happened with Kim. Saying this, this is part of a series and so I am hoping to find out more when I continue reading. Although I have only given this book 3 1/2 stars it does not mean it was awful, it kept me entertained, it was a light read but just left me feeling a little deflated, it didn't really set me on fire. Saying this it has kept me interested enough to want to read the next in the series.

I would recommend this is for you want a quick light read. I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Salt Marsh blog tour with guest post

THE SALT MARSH

CLARE CARSON

 

Publication Date: 16th June 2016

Price: £18.99

‘The writing, whether about people or places, is excellent’ Sunday Express

 

A haunting thriller set in the windswept marshes of Kent and Norfolk, from the author of Orkney Twilight

It is a year since Sam's father died, but she cannot lay his ghost to rest. Jim was an undercover agent living a double life, and Sam has quit university to find out the truth about his work. Her journey will take her from the nightclubs of 80s Soho to the salt marshes and shingle spits of Norfolk and Kent. Here, in a bleak windswept landscape dotted with smugglers' huts and

buried bones, Jim's secret past calls to her like never before. Now Sam must decide. Will she walk away and pick up her own life? Or become an undercover operative herself and continue her father's work in the shadows…

AUTHOR

Clare Carson is an anthropologist and works in international development, specialising in human rights. Her father was an undercover policeman in the 1970s.   She drew on her own experiences to create the character of Sam, a rebellious eighteen year old who is nevertheless determined to make her father proud. 

Guest Post: 

Witchcraft



The Salt Marsh is my second novel about Sam the daughter of a police spy. It is set in England in 1986 and the plot involves witchcraft. The idea for this came from anthropological research I did in Zimbabwe in 1995. Anthropologists often compare different cultures – and find similarities in unexpected places.



I was living in a remote village in southern Zimbabwe researching women’s use of health services. It was hot and arid. There were deadly snakes, baobab trees and strange insects that looked like lobsters. At night the Southern Cross dazzled on the horizon. I spent my days wandering around mud huts interviewing women. Our conversations often drifted to witchcraft – women would whisper the names of those they thought used curses and potions to harm their neighbours. Accusations of witchcraft were a way of addressing jealousies and arguments, disputes about property, and general discontent. It was usually women who were accused of witchcraft. Widows were more vulnerable than most, particularly if they were still living on their late husband’s land.



On the edge of the village were four widows who had all once been accused of witchcraft. I sensed that they had an unspoken bond. I pieced together their stories and discovered that, during the seventies, they had been married to the same man. He was the local policeman, employed by the Rhodesian colonial state. He had a regular salary, which made him rich in comparison to the other villagers. That meant he could afford to have a lot of wives and he married six very young women - girls in fact. They had no choice in the matter. Their parents were glad to have the brideprice – money or cattle paid by the groom to the father of the bride.



The seventies was a decade of guerrilla war against white rule, culminating in Independence in 1980 and the election of Mugabe as President. When the independence fighters entered the village in the late seventies, the policeman was murdered by the rebels. His wives were all accused of witchcraft, beaten and chased away with their children. They dispersed – some to the towns to make a living hanging around the bars, and some to the South African gold mines. But eventually some of the widows returned. By then, the political tide in the area had turned against Mugabe, so the widows were no longer seen as wives of the enemy, and were allowed to resettle. They were not exactly forgiven, but tolerated on the margins.



I felt an unexpected connection with these women and their stories, because I am the daughter of a policeman, and they suffered from being the wives of one. When I was writing a story about Sam, the daughter of a police spy dealing with her late father’s enemies and the accusations they make about her, witchcraft seemed like an interesting way of expressing her fears. The Salt Marsh draws on the history of witchcraft in England as well as the stories from Zimbabwe, but it’s easy to sense the similarities in human behaviour sitting uncomfortably close to the surface, despite the differences in place and time.

Dr Hedgehog and the Tree Rescue by Jerry Mushin

Dr Hedgehog and the Tree Rescue by Jerry Mushin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Dr Hedgehog picture book series is intended to be read aloud to young children. Both the readers and the listeners will enjoy the stories. There are common characters, but each story can be read independently of the others. In most of the stories, Martin Mouse finds himself in awkward situations but Dr Hedgehog, usually with the help of other animals, is always able to assist. Children will recognise their mothers in Mavis Mouse, who worries about her son and is always greatly relieved when he arrives home safely. In this story, Martin Mouse climbs a tree to pick some leaves for his teacher, and he cannot get down. How does Henry Horse help Dr Hedgehog to get him down?

Once again we meet Dr Hedgehog, like the previous story in the series there are the same characters and some of the sayings are present, which is nice as it makes the books link. Saying this, this book could easily be read alone as the story makes sense without reading the others.

I mentioned the illustrations were not my favourite during my previous review, this again is the same, unfortunately they are not growing on me and I think Dr Hedgehog could come across a little nicer in stories, personally I don't like his character at all. My class who I read this too, were also not too keen on him as he seems to always be cross.

This book started off better than one of the previous I felt and had a bit more too it as in way of a story, however I felt it was let down towards the ending, where Dr Hedgehog got cross and told Martin Mouse just 'go home and find out'. He didn't come across very patient and considering he is a doctor should be!

The length of the book is good and perfect for a 15 minute read with a child, or during snack time if you are at school. This book is O.K, my class probably will pick it up again to read independently at some point.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Dr Hedgehog and the River Rescue by Jerry Mushin

Dr Hedgehog and the River Rescue by Jerry Mushin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Dr Hedgehog picture book series is intended to be read aloud to young children. Both the readers and the listeners will enjoy the stories. There are common characters, but each story can be read independently of the others. In most of the stories, Martin Mouse finds himself in awkward situations but Dr Hedgehog, usually with the help of other animals, is always able to assist. Children will recognise their mothers in Mavis Mouse, who worries about her son and is always greatly relieved when he arrives home safely. In this story, Martin Mouse walks across a frozen river and falls through the melting ice. He cannot get out. How does Fred Frog help Dr Hedgehog to get him to the edge of the river?

Unfortunately out of all 3 in the series this book was liked the least. Just like the other books in this series we meet Martin mouse and Dr Hedgehog. Martin mouse is excited about the weather, it has snowed and it has been the first time it has snowed since last year. His mother warns him about the ice and tells him to remember to take the bridge. Of course Martin mouse decides to ignore her warning.

The illustrations are the same as the others in the series, which I was not keen on. They seem a little simple and could have been portrayed a lot better in my opinion.

This book out of the series seems to be the most random, Dr Hedgehog decides to throw Martin mouse a sandwich while he waits, which seems a little strange to me. I am also a little disappointed with the moral in this book. Martin mouse is hoping no one tells his mother he ignored her advice to cross the river, which seems a little deceiving to me. The book also seemed to end a bit abruptly, it would have been good to see what Martin's mother would have made of him ignoring her. I think if it had shown that and depending on how she would have dealt with his behaviour I would have been able to give this a higher star rating.

I read this to my class and they were a little underwhelmed with the story. They didn't have a lot to say about it. I think perhaps younger children would like this book, maybe 4 or 5 year olds.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

How to Hook a Husband By Sarah Harvey blog tour with guest post!

How to Hook a Husband

By Sarah Harvey

Published by Manilla eBook, 28th July 2016, £4,99

A witty, page-turning read for fans of Marian Keyes,

Jill Mansell and Carrie Elks

When Belle returns home from backpacking for her best friend’s wedding and catches the groom-to-be with another girl, the wedding is called off and Nicky is eternally grateful.

Realising her friend has a talent for spotting men with a roving eye, Nicky puts her friend to work helping others and soon Belle is hanging out in bars and hiding in bushes, hoping to catch unsuspecting Casanovas…

Then she is hired to follow the elusive Eddie Farrar and everything changes as Belle finds herself falling under his spell.

Will she be able to resist his charms or is there more to him than meets the eye?

About the Author: 

Sarah Harvey is an internationally successful writer of fun, young romantic fiction. How to Hook a Husband is her first novel published by Manilla. Sarah lives with her partner and their dogs in Northamptonshire.

He’s caught the bait, now it’s time to reel him in…

Guest Post:
What actually is romantic love, why do we all look for the one?





I met a man the other day. I was in a car garage so that wasn’t that unusual, those kind of places being a mecca for all things maledom. What was unusual was the fact that I found him incredibly attractive. I am what my mother terms as “choosy”. I don’t meet many men that catch my eye. It doesn’t help that my heart seems to be permanently taken by someone who doesn’t actually seem to want me too, it makes me walk through life with a set of blinkers on, as if no other man really exists except for this elusive he. But this man amidst the cars, who came up and started talking to me, well he stuck in my mind so much that he’s still there, three days later. So I was trying to think what it was about this one that made him slightly different. Was it the fact that he was friendly but a little and very sweetly shy, that he was interesting and as we talked I found we shared several interests that were uncannily specific, or even perhaps that he looked rather like Johnny Depp in “the Tourist”, I really wasn’t sure, but the more I thought about it, and wondered how my usually unswayable heart had suddenly skipped a small but noticeable beat, the more I realized that what attracted me was actually completely indefinable. And such I feel is Love, it is one of those feelings that is so hard to put into words, although the poets over the years have tried their emotional and emotive best. Pablo Neruda, whose poems are as deeply soaked in love, as a good old fashioned Christmas trifle is with sherry, describes it thus, “love is a clash of lightening bolts, and two bodies defeated by a single drop of honey”. Such a beautifully romantic description. I cannot profess to being able to put into words so wonderfully exactly what I think that love might be. I know from experience that what we think is love can be so easily distilled by disappointment, and if love isn’t lasting, was it ever actually love in the first place, or just that odd mix of chemistry and expectation that is instant attraction? Perhaps it’s not something you recognize with logic or your head, it’s something that you recognize with your heart, and for that I truly have no explanation. It’s something you find when you look into their eyes and see not just the beauty of the colour, but the beauty of their thoughts and heart and soul as well. I do know that we are forever as a sentient being in the constant pursuit of things that make us happy, and what gives us those wonderful ecstatic highs more than being completely and utterly in love? But is there only one person on this entire planet who can do that for you? I am actually not so sure that this is so for everyone, but I do know that although my heart may occasionally skip a beat when I meet someone new, for me there truly is only “the one”, because when I’m with him it doesn’t just skip a beat, it sings an entire opera.

How to Hook a Husband By Sarah Harvey blog tour

How to Hook a Husband

By Sarah Harvey

Published by Manilla eBook, 28th July 2016, £4,99

When Belle returns home from backpacking for her best friend’s wedding and catches the groom-to-be with another girl, the wedding is called off and Nicky is eternally grateful.

Realising her friend has a talent for spotting men with a roving eye, Nicky puts her friend to work helping others and soon Belle is hanging out in bars and hiding in bushes, hoping to catch unsuspecting Casanovas…

Then she is hired to follow the elusive Eddie Farrar and everything changes as Belle finds herself falling under his spell.

Will she be able to resist his charms or is there more to him than meets the eye?

About the Author: Sarah Harvey is an internationally successful writer of fun, young romantic fiction. How to Hook a Husband is her first novel published by Manilla. Sarah lives with her partner and their dogs in Northamptonshire.

What actually is romantic love?  Why do we all look for "the one"?’ 

Dr Hedgehog and the Post Box Rescue by Jerry Mushin

Dr Hedgehog and the Post Box Rescue by Jerry Mushin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Dr Hedgehog picture book series is intended to be read aloud to young children. Both the readers and the listeners will enjoy the stories. There are common characters, but each story can be read independently of the others. In most of the stories, Martin Mouse finds himself in awkward situations but Dr Hedgehog, usually with the help of other animals, is always able to assist. Children will recognise their mothers in Mavis Mouse, who worries about her son and is always greatly relieved when he arrives home safely. In this story, Mavis Mouse cannot find her son. Martin Mouse has fallen into a post-box and cannot climb out. How does Dr Hedgehog get him out?

I had never heard of 'Dr Hedgehog' before, I knew my class would enjoy it, as they always love a picture book so was pleased when this was sent to me for review.

Well, this book I thought was O.K, personally I am not keen on the illustrations or the plot, this was something that my class identified too. Dr Hedgehog should be giving animals medicine or making them better, however in this story he is on a mission to get a mouse out of a post box.

It was quite a sweet and short story that would be good for younger readers to attempt on their own. The text is relatively large and although a few tricky words, that they children probably wouldn't understand there is a lot they could access. The tricky words provide a discussion between the adult and the child which is nice.

I would recommend this to younger children, I read it to 6 and 7 year olds and although it did keep their attention I feel it would be better suited to 4 or 5 year olds.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

642 Things to Draw: Journal by Chronicle Books

642 Things to Draw: Journal by Chronicle Books
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This deceptively simple and addictive sketchbook-with-content includes tons of hip and entertaining things to draw. Encourages artists to try their hands at things like a bike, mistakes, Fred Astaire, synchronized swimmers, a sippy cup, RUN DMC, feelings, a waffle, the view from an airplane, and many many more

So I absolutely love this book. It will inspire even the reluctant artist. It is not intimidating and has different sized spaces for different items. I have been drawing with my husband and we have had a little 'draw off' for each item. We have had so much fun filling in the pages and have lots more to continue with.

We have only been using pencil to create our drawings, however you could use a range of media, water colour, acrylic, pastels or even graphite. We have mentioned that we think the book would be really great to put in our hallway so when guests come over they have to leave us a drawing and a little message. This would also be great in a hotel room as you could ask guests to leave a little drawing for you.

If you are expecting images in this book to insipire you, you will be disappointed as there are just written inspiration such as a rolling pin, fire escape etc. For us this was enough. :) This is a great book that will keep you entertained for hours. I would love to check out others in this range. I would certainly buy this as a gift for others and recommend it.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

SIXPLUS 11 Pieces Royal Golden Makeup Brush Set (Golden)

£28.99 from amazon.co.uk

Description taken from amazon.co.uk - 

• SIXPLUS MAKEUP BRUSH SET -All brushes are handmade,the bristles are made with highest quality synthetic hair , they are soft silky and resilient,easier to pick up powder ,works well for both pressed powder and cream .All of our brushes are environmental friendly,no animals are hurt or tested along the way.
• WOODEN HANDLES-The wooden handles are sturdy and organized,Sixplus brushes are professional at applying powder and making the application last longer.The set includes powder, foundation, blush, contour, eyeshadow, eyeliner brushes, more than enough for daily makeup. Gain more beauty and confidence with this exclusive makeup kit.
• COMES WITH A ZIPPER BAG - Space-saving and easy to take when travelling.Made of high quality leather, all brushes in one bag, convenient to carry them anywhere, easier for traveling and storage. You can also store other tools in the bag, such as foundation, mascara ,lipsticks or even your phone, it isn't only a brush pouch, you can also manage your daily necessities with it.
• PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP BRUSHES- The color of teh ferrules is quite special,and each individual make up brush is wrapped in a small plastic bag in the case,giving it extra protection.Black handle and brown hair with leather pouch ,providing it with a perfect new look. It is unique and unlike any other brushes, each brush is designed to provide best makeup applications, we aim at offering professional makeup brush, to make beauty easier
• OUR LIFETIME GUARANTEE: we focus on providing satisfing products and service during your purchases, if you are unsatisfied with your brushes after receiving them within 30 days, we will provide unconditional 100% refund for you

My review: 

When this brush set arrived for me to review, I couldn't believe the quality of it, it was definitely more than I expected. It came in a wonderful travel case, this would be perfect to buy as a gift as it is really well presented. It is also great to have all your brushes in one place, where there is less chance of losing them. 

Inside the case there are 11 brushes, each with it's own purpose. There is a guide inside as to which brush is for what. This is also printed on the back of the box too, so if you are unsure of what the use of each one is for you will get a good idea from that. Also in the case there is instructions on how to clean the brushes as well as 5 brush guards. These are for the larger brushes to protect them. 

I really pulled the brushes to check the quality of the hairs. They all remained intact, the handles are strong and don't show any signs of becoming lose. Each brush is very soft and full. All bristles are made in high quality synthetic human hair materials this is much better than them being plastic, they each have a wooden handle and hypoallergenic metal connector, great if like me you are allergic to metal. 

As I said before each brush has it's own function, there is a liquid foundation brush, a powdered foundation brush, contour and blusher brush, a selection of eye shadow brushes, a concealer brush, eyebrow brush and eyeliner brush. This is a great selection of brushes in this pack. I was so surprised there was an eyeliner brush in this pack, a lot of brush packs this would not be present in. 

At £28.99 this seems a little pricey, saying that though you do get 11 brushes, guards and a case. Due to the quality of these I would recommend this set to others. It should last a long time and does give really good results. 

There is one negative I have about these brushes and that is the smell of the case, it did smell quite chemically once removed from the box. The actual brushes however have no smell so I am assuming once they have been exposed to the air for a while the smell will fade. That is also certainly not a reason to not get these as this as a brush set is perfect. The range is incredible and like I said before the quality is brilliant. 

I would like to thank the company for sending this in exchange for an honest review. I was provided with a sample product at a complimentary or discounted rate in exchange for a fair, unbiased, and honest review. 

The Muse Audiobook feature

The Muse

Audiobook

Written by Jessie Burton

Narrated by Cathy Tyson

Available now,

30 June 2016

The Muse is a gripping tale of a Caribbean immigrant in 1960s London and a bohemian woman in 1930s Spain from the bestselling author of The Miniaturist.

Having narrated The Miniaturist herself, Jessie Burton chose British actress Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa, Bad Girls, ITV’s Band of Gold) to narrate The Muse. Jessie said ‘she is absolutely perfect…to have someone like Cathy, who is a fantastic actress for all the roles in the book, reading The Muse is an immense privilege.’  

Tyson, who has Trinidadian roots, has commented on her narration and the art of storytelling, saying: ‘I think we tell each other stories in an effort to understand life.’ 

About The Muse:

England, 1967. Struggling to find her place in London after arriving from Trinidad five years ago, Odelle Bastien is offered a job as a typist at the Skelton gallery under the tutelage of the enigmatic Marjorie Quick. Although Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, she remains a mystery - never more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery.

The truth about the painting lies in 1936 and a house in rural Spain where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harbouring ambitions of her own. Into this fragile paradise come artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister, Teresa, who immediately insinuate themselves into the Schloss family, with devastating consequences....

Seductive, exhilarating and suspenseful, The Muse is an unforgettable novel about aspiration and identity, love and obsession, authenticity and deception and is set to be 2016’s must-listen audiobook. 

To watch a behind the scenes video of The Muse visit www.audible.co.uk/TheMuse

Also available in ebook and print from Picador

Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit

Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anna and the Swallow Man is a stunning, literary, and wholly original debut novel that tells a new WW2 story.

Kraków, 1939, is no place to grow up. There are a million marching soldiers and a thousand barking dogs. And Anna Lania is just seven years old when the Germans take her father and suddenly, she’s alone.

Then she meets the Swallow Man. He is a mystery, strange and tall. And like Anna's missing father, he has a gift for languages: Polish, Russian, German, Yiddish, even Bird. When he summons a bright, beautiful swallow down to his hand to stop her from crying, Anna is entranced.

Over the course of their travels together, Anna and the Swallow Man will dodge bombs, tame soldiers, and even, despite their better judgement, make a friend. But in a world gone mad, everything can prove dangerous . . .


I could not write this review immediately I had read this book, I had to take time to analyse the impact it had on me as well as review the writer's style, choice of material and ultimately the story itself.

Normally when I read and review a book I know how I feel about it; this book is different, it is so haunting and parts of it kept coming back to me when I least expected it, it made me 'feel' the characters and that for me is rare. I know that I will remember this story for a long time to come and it easily sits comfortably alongside the likes of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, furthermore I can see this being made into a film and in schools on their listed books to read on the curriculum.

It is a moving, sometimes almost hopeless journey of a small child and a stranger who travel across war torn Poland during the years of the conflict seen through the eyes of the child but written by an adult. Anna's father is a linguistics professor in Krakow who when he goes to work he leaves his daughter with one of his many friends around the city. This particular day he leaves Anna in the care of his Polish friend who is a pharmacist but he does not return. One has to assume that he has been taken by the Germans although what his fate is we never learn. When her father does not return the pharmacist abandons her, perhaps he is afraid of having a Jew in his house or being associated with one but whatever his reason he leaves this little 7 year old girl to fend for herself. It highlights for me the acute need for self preservation of people during the war and the fear for their own lives that made them behave in this way. Anna has been educated by her father in languages and like him she can speak Polish, Russian, German and Yiddish so when she meets the Swallow Man who can also speak many languages she feels sure her father must have sent him to her. I think you need to abandon all grown up thoughts of fear and reason to immerse yourself in the mind of a 7 year old who has no reason to fear anyone of her fathers' many friends who she is used to being left with and that she has complete faith in the fact that if her father has organised this it must be OK.

What follows is her blindly following this stranger who eventually leads her across Poland to safety. Their journey is one not only of Anna's growing up physically but of her 'education' along the way of emotional conflict, the loss of her childhood and the horrors of war mixed with wonders of magical folklore stories and her unequivocal belief that everything will be fine . Children have this innocence that in part shields them from reality making everything like an adventure or a game, with Anna's conviction that the Swallow Man is somehow magical backed up by his tales of folklore she is able to survive her ordeal remarkably well.

We don't really learn much about the complex character of the Swallow Man but the author hints that he had a daughter called Greta who we must assume was either killed or who died and perhaps this is the reason that he forms a bond with Anna. He doesn't show her any real affection although she knows he cares for her. Possibly he does not want to love her knowing one day he will have to let her go, perhaps it is too painful for him like loosing Greta all over again. To Anna he is like a magician, somehow he is able to make himself blend in wherever he goes, not attracting attention and he teaches her to be the same, he teaches her how to survive. When in the city they wear city clothes, when they are in the country they dress accordingly, never seeming to stand out, never memorable and thus they are able to make their way across Poland avoiding or charming the Germans and the Russians along the way.

Beautifully written this was often a difficult read in terms of subject matter and at times felt quite hopeless despite this there was an underlying feeling that Anna would survive. I felt the ending was unfinished on so many levels which opens up the possibility of a sequel. Often a book is read and forgotten quite quickly but I know that this story will stay with me for a very long time, it is impossible to read something so beautifully crafted without it making such an impact. I rarely give a novel a 5 star rating but have to do so for this captivating book. If you haven't read it then you must but don't expect to be entertained expect to be moved and you won't be disappointed.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.